The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-21

ticularly that Of the day previous, WA
covered at the roadside by the guns, KNAPP
sacks, canteens, broken wagons and extra
garments OF the Confederates. These wero
especially numerous between the Cham.
pon's Hill battle ground and Edwards
Station.
Pretty early on the morning Of Nav IS
the bluffs Of Black river were reached and
the remains OF the burned railroad bridge
came in sight.
A little later tho writer's regiment was
found inside of tho Confederat, works OF
the day previous. The writer soon had
from his comra les, who had been partici,
pants in the battle OF Black River Bridge,
"a full account OF the whole affair
IL was almost u bloodless victory. A
bayou circles around to the cast from
Black river at the railroad bridge, forming
sort OF horseshoe, one-half TO three.
quarters OF mile in extent; Just within this
the Confederates, with cotton bales from
the neighboring plantation, had extempor.
lied breastworks. These were well manned,
and at convenient intervals cannon were
planted. Upon the hills just west Of the
river tho Confederates We're in force
Lawler, with his brigade, charged the left
flank Of tho rebel line, when the whole OF
the enemy either surrendered or sought
safety in flight.
Seventeen hundred prisoners were taken,
many OF whom, when the charge was first
made, became panic-stricken, tore out lit
tie lunches Of cotton from the bales in the
breastworks and hoisted these upon the
points OF their bayonets In token Of sur.
render.
The writer spent some time In visiting
che works lately occupied by the Con feder.
ates; they seemed strong, and the whole
position was very similar 10 that occupied
by the fedcrals eighteen months later at
Franklin, Tom, whore the furious charges
of Hoods forces were made unsuccessfully
and with such terrible loss, upon 81 hoheld,
the Union Commander.
Having lost, since the first day OF May,
1863, the battles OF Port Gibson, Raymond,
jackson, Champions Hill and Black Rver
Bridge, all in tho vicinity of Vicksburg,
the ConfcdcrateS on thu 18th OF tho stme
month retired within the works Of that
stronghold.
AS soon as the position at Black river
was lost, the bridge at that point was
burned. The pioneer corps, however, fell
to work most energetically, and by ten
o'clock of May is, the bridge was ready
for use. Eighteen guns were captured at
Black river Many OF these were hand
some and finish d in most beautiful man.
ner. Several had painted upon them in
gilt letters, names of popular Confederate
officers, but qualified with the word lady.
Thus there was the LADY Davis, " "Lady
Price" "Lady Beaurcgard,,n etc.
Before noon nearly the whole command
was across the Big Black and headed for
Vicksburg, ten or twelve miles distant
The way was for the most part lined with
farm houses.
Tho Thirteenth Corps bore TO the left
and at nightfall was within about ten
miles Of the works that encircled Vicks.
burg. OrieS were given TO make Ares
only in the ruvnes with which the region
was well supplied.
Early next morning tho whole com.
mand advanced. AS the Confederates had
so far been defeated and had in the last on.
eagement yielded what seemed o strong